Dr Thermal TI-V77

Dr Thermal was nice enough to send a sample of their Dr Thermal TI-V77 Socket A/370 heatsink. This is an aluminum radial fin/copper plug design. The base

Note the CPU core contact patch.

features a copper plug insert for increased cooling effectiveness. The base on the sample I had was not finished flush to the aluminum base – it was raised very slightly above it so that CPU contact with the surrounding aluminum base was not optimal, although only a small portion was not contacting the copper plug (this is characteristic of almost all Socket A/370 heatsinks using a symmetrical radial fin design).

The fan is an YS Tech Model #FD1270157B-1F; a 70 x 15mm unit rated at 36.5 cfm @ 5000 rpm (this sample ran at 5619 rpm). I found it to be not too noisy – I measured its noise at 64 dBA with a Radio Shack sound meter 8″ from the fan’s intake, less than a Delta 38 (about 69 dBA); YS Tech specs the noise at 40 dBA. It consumes about 3.1 watts, so it should be OK to use a motherboard fan header.

Mounting is its best feature – with the lever in the “up” position, engage the retention base; then swing the clip closed and it’s firmly mounted – easy, simple, very effective and not a problem to mount in a crowded case.

In summary, a fairly conventional aluminum/copper plug heatsink with one of the easiest and secure socket mounting systems around.

THE TEST

The TI-V77 was first tested on the CPU Die Simulator which gives results that are unaffected by motherboard influences. I then tested it on an Iwill KK266+, modified to read AMD CPU die temps, as an example of what users might see on their systems.

TEST RESULTS – CPU Simulator

Heatsink

Die Temp

Ambient Temp

Delta

C/W

TI-V77

49.8 C

23.8 C

26.0 C

0.36

TEST RESULTS – Motherboard

CPU/Motherboard

CPU Die Temp

Ambient Temp

Delta

C/W

CPU Back Temp

Palomino 1200, Iwill KK266+

39.2 C

24.2 C

15.0

0.27

42.2 C

Delta = CPU temp – Ambient Temp C/W = Delta / CPU Watts

Interpreting C/W: For every watt (CPUw) that the CPU consumes, the HSF will limit the CPU’s temperature rise to (C/W x CPUw) plus the temperature at the HSF’s fan inlet. For example, at an ambient temp of 25 C, a C/W of 0.25 with a CPU radiating 50 watts means that CPU temp will increase 50 x 0.25 = 12.5 C over ambient temp, or 37.5 C. The lower the C/W, the better.